Result: Associated Field Trial Clubs of Connecticut & Spruce Brook Bird Dog Club

Location: East Windsor, Connecticut

Post Date: May 29, 2026

Submitted By: Tom Tracy

Open All-Age (front): Mark Janiec with Southpoint's Hog Wild and Wendy Harman with Thunder Road. (Rear, l-r): Larry Marman, Joe Lordi, Ed McCay, Karen Janiec, John Stolgitis, George Tracy, Kevin and Maureen Joyce, Mary Tracy, Gary Tavares, Liz and Dave McKay, and Bill Bonnetti.

We want to start by thanking the Southern Bird Hunters Association and Eukanuba for sponsoring the trial again this year. They are a great asset and friend to field trials.
The trial was held on May 22-24, 2026, at the Dr. John Flaherty Field Trial grounds in East Windsor, Connecticut. The State of Connecticut did some early mowing on the course, which kept the cover down in some areas for a late spring trial. Thank you for your efforts.
A few days before the trial, we had temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s. At the start of the trial on Friday, we had much lower temperatures and sunshine to start with. Saturday morning was cloudy and pleasant, but by mid-afternoon, we had light rain that grew heavier and continued through Sunday.

At this time, I would like to thank the judges and all who helped to put this trial on. The judges for the Open All-Age were John Stolgitis and Gary Tavares; Open Restricted Shooting Dog were Alene Levasseur and Tom Tracy; Open Derby were John Stolgitis and Gary Tavares; Open Shooting Dog were Bill Bonnetti and Joe Lordi; and Amateur Shooting Dog were Tim Cavanaugh and Mitch Swierczynski. All decisions were well received. The following is a list of people who all helped to put this trial on. Janey and Bill Bonnetti, John Stolgitis, Gary Tavares, Alene Levasseur, Gene Casale Jr., Amilcar Pereira, Steve Graham, and Tom Tracy.

On Thursday night, to welcome all the competitors and attendees, John Stolgitis prepared a dinner of mussels, pasta salad, and barbecue chicken. Jayne and Bill Bonnetti provided breakfast (muffins, pastries, and coffee), lunch, and dinner for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Lunches: soup, sandwiches, barbecue ribs, chicken, salad, potato salad, and corn on the cob. Dinners were turkey with all the trimmings, shrimp scampi, clam chowder, pork roast, and all the sides. We cannot thank you enough for all your hard work. The meals were delicious.
On Saturday night, we celebrated Matt Basilone's birthday with his family and friends.
The Open All-Age stake started Friday morning under cool, sunny skies. Southpoint's Hog Wild, handled by Mark Janiec, was first with a strong race and two finds. Thunder Road, owned by Allen Linder and Bill and Muriel Primm, was a close second with a good forward race and two finds.

The Open Restricted Shooting Dog was next, with Facebook Politician taking first place with three finds for George Tracy.

The Open Derby had six entries, all with good performances. She's A 10 was first, and Bluebar Index was second, both handled by George Tracy; both dogs looked good on the ground with excellent bird work. Tim Cavanaugh handled Little Miss Mildred for third place with a very similar race and bird work as the dogs placed above. Blue, handled by Tim Cavanaugh and owned by Stevie Graham, also performed well.

The Open Shooting Dog was the last of the open stakes. Joe Lordi and Bill Bonnetti, judges, had many good dogs to look at. Calico's Sky's The Limit was first with an outstanding race and four perfect finds. Second was Fort River's Lucky Charm, owned by Gary Tavares and handled by Matt Basilone. His performance was very close to the winner, with a strong race and three finds. Mark Janiec was third with Southpoint's Hog Wild, his second placement of the trial. Good job, Mark!

The one-hour Amateur Shooting Dog stake was the last stake of this trial; it was run under wet conditions, challenging dogs, handlers, and judges. The winner running Sunday morning was Cape Point Hidden Jewel, handled by Bill Bonnetti. She ran very well under tough conditions and had four finds. Second was Fort River's Lucky Charm, handled by Marcus Ramseur. He ran the last brace on Saturday under rainy conditions with a good race and four finds. We learned on Sunday morning that Fort River's Luckey Charm, handled by Marcus, won the English Setter Award for Amateur Shooting Dog. Congratulations, Marcus and Gary. Ed McCay was third with Mohawk Mill King Pen. He also ran on Sunday morning under very wet conditions. His race was strong and forward with multiple finds.

East Windsor, Conn., May 22 - One Course
Judges: John Stolgitis and Gary Tavares
OPEN ALL-AGE - 4 Pointers
1st-SOUTHPOINT'S HOG WILD, F1686800, pointer male, by Broken Halo-Backwoods Tennessee Honey. Mark Janiec, owner and handler.
2d-THUNDER ROAD, F1714744, pointer male, by Rentz's Hijacked-Dominator's Heir Kate. Allen Linder & Muriel Primm, owners; George Tracy, handler.

Open Restricted Shooting Dog (front): Wendy Harman with Facebook Politician. (Rear, l-r): Karen and Mark Janiec, Joe Lordi, George Tracy, John Stolgitis, Mary Tracy, Gary Tavares, Maureen Joyce, Dave and Liz McKay, and Kevin Joyce.

Judges: Alene LeVasseur and Tom Tracy
OPEN RESTRICTED SHOOTING DOG - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-FACEBOOK POLITICIAN, F1711746, pointer male, by Erin's Perfect Storm-Erin's Little Faye. Amilcar Pereira, owner; George Tracy, handler.

Open Derby (front): Larry Harman with She's A 10, Wendy Harman with Bluebar Index, and Tim Cavanaugh with Little Miss Mildred. (Rear, l-r): Mark and Karen Janiec, Marcus Ramseur, Joe Lordi, Ed McCay, George Tracy, John Stolgitis, Mary Tracy, Maureen and Kevin Joyce, Gary Tavares, Dave and Liz McKay, and Bill Bonnetti.

Judges: John Stolgitis and Gary Tavares
OPEN DERBY - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-SHE'S A 10, F1722261, pointer female, by Bail Me Out-Osceola's Seminole Wind. Joe McHugh, owner; George Tracy, handler.
2d-BLUEBAR INDEX, F1724061, pointer female, by Miller's High Heat Index-Nemaha Snow Rebel. Dennis Hood, owner; George Tracy, handler.
3d-LITTLE MISS MILDRED, F1725085, pointer female, by Indian Creek Spur-Little Miss Margaret. Tim Cavanaugh, owner and handler.

Open Shooting Dog (front): Wendy Harman with Calico's Sky's The Limit, Marcus Ramseur with Fort River's Lucky Charm, and Mark Janiec with Southpoint's Hog Wild. (Rear, l-r): Larry Harman, George and Mary Tracy, Ed McCay, Joe Lordi, Matt and Melissa Basilone, John Stolgitis, Gary Tavares, Bill Bonnetti, Karen Janiec, Maureen and Kevin Joyce, and Dave and Liz McKay.

Judges: Bill Bonnetti and Joe Lordi
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 14 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-CALICO'S SKY'S THE LIMIT, F1692352, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Calico's Country Strong. William & Muriel Primm & Allen Linder, owners; George Tracy, handler.
2d-FORT RIVER'S LUCKY CHARM, F1681132, setter male, by Mohawk Mill Lucky Charm-Fort River Jackie. Gary Tavares, owner; Matt Basilone, handler.
3d-SOUTHPOINT'S HOG WILD, F1686800, pointer male, by Broken Halo-Backwoods Tennessee Honey. Mark Janiec, owner and handler.

Judges: Tim Cavanaugh and Mitch Swierczynski
AMATEUR HSOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-CAPE POINT HIDDEN JEWEL, F1679987, pointer female, by Daddy's Little Boy Butch-Porter Meadow Bette. Bill & Brad Bonnetti, owners; Bill Bonnetti, handler.
2d-FORT RIVER'S LUCKY CHARM, F1681132, setter male, by Mohawk Mill Lucky Charm-Fort River Jackie. Gary Tavares, owner; Mark Ramseur, handler.
3d-MOHAWK MILL KING PEN, F1703198, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Big Stuff-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Megan & Ed McCay, owners; Ed McKay, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (front): Bill Bonnetti with Cape Point Hidden Jewel, Marcus Ramseur with Fort River's Lucky Charm, and Ed McCay with Mohawk Mill King Pen. (Rear, l-r): Tim Cavanaugh (judge), Alene LeVasseur, Mitch Swiercynski (judge), Matt Basilone, Daniel Jarrell, Sophia Ramseur, Melisa Basilone, and Gary Tavares.